DISTRACTIONS TO FULFILLING YOUR DESTINY IN THE LORD.
1. BROKEN FOCUS
You can lose your focus.
Matthew 14:22-27 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
If you are in fear you are not operating in faith. God is present and peace prevails, but it's up to you if you want to focus on God or focus on the circumstances.
Matthew 14:28-31 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Notice, he was BEGINNING to sink, he didn't sink all the way under. He called to God at the beginning.
Obstacle to greatness are overcome by our walk - Walk OUT of the boat, Walk ON the water, and Walk TO the Lord
He stepped out and started to go where He needed to go, but distractions of the wind and waves caused him to break his focus. But he REACHED UP to take a HAND to get up and GO ON. Peter was brave. When Jesus corrected his faith, it was because he had already experiences a tremendous amount of miracles that Jesus did, and his faith should not have been so easily shaken. We want to do what we can, as fast as we can, so that we do not lose focus.
2. PEOPLE - People can be a distraction.
Matthew 14:26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
If we want to keep pleasing people we can be distracted. If we are only interested in the opinions of others, we will not be focused on God. If Jesus says, "DO NOT BE AFRAID" we know that He will not tell us to do something we are incapable of doing. We need to believe Jesus and respond differently. Had Adam obeyed God and responded to Eve by telling her to put the fruit down and repent, and then Adam smacked the devil down, the outcome of the Garden of Eden situation would have been changed.
The Spirit of God helps us to see the things that are distractions for us.
Someone mentioned that Peter was standing on the water - and we know that the Water is the Word. He stopped focusing on the Word, and focused on the World. the world is a distraction, and he needs to walk on the Word.
3. OFFENDED HEART
Mark 6:2-5 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Himwere astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
Mark 6:2-5 AMP And on the Sabbath He began to teach in the synagogue; and many who listened to Him were utterly astonished, saying, Where did this Man acquire all this? What is the wisdom [the broad and full intelligence which has been] given to Him? What mighty works and exhibitions of power are wrought by His hands! Is not this the Carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not His sisters here among us? And they took offense at Him and were hurt [that is, they disapproved of Him, and it hindered them from acknowledging His authority] and they were caused to stumble and fall. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor (deference, reverence) except in his [own] country and among [his] relatives and in his [own] house. And He was not able to do even one work of power there, except that He laid His hands on a few sickly people [and] cured them.
There are those who do not want you to change. It is a distraction. People looked at Jesus in light of his human history, and judged Him that way. They were also upset that He did not get their permission first. Pastor Wendell told us to not let anyone cause you to dumb down on you. People judge by appearances. Remember in American Idol in England the woman Susan who looked frumpy but had an incredible voice?
People will get offended at you, because of who you are. Be great for God.
4. DOUBLE MINDED
The Antidote to doublemindedness
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
James 1:5-8 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:8 AMP [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].
Luke 18:18-27 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
The rich young ruler did not like Jesus' answer. He wanted an easy answer and did not want to forsake anything. He wanted to add to his riches the prospect of being perfect in the eyes of God and man. He was busy pleasing people and building up his riches. He felt that greatness had to do with possessions.
If he had chosen to obey Jesus and follow Jesus he would have had greatness in the earth. But he was not willing to let go of his stuff. We have no way of knowing if Jesus would not have returned the riches to this young man. But the man chose to place riches above Jesus. Who knows what would have happened had he chosen to make Jesus Lord over his life.
Mark 10:29-31 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Instability causes us to miss the opportunity to be great for God.
Pastor Wendell spoke of Joseph in Potiphar's house. Mrs. Potiphar tried to seduce him, but he kept himself pure - running away. He did not get himself into a predicament because he made up in his mind that he would not compromise. Once his mind was made up he did not turn back. He placed his stability in God, not in circumstances.
We get so caught up in institutional religion when God wants us to move into relationship with Him.
If you keep doing what you are doing you will keep getting what you are getting. We don't want to face life hiding our heads in a hole. Instead we want to be guided to the place that God wants us to be, and the way we get to that place is through relationship with Him. Riches dictated what he did. His desire for relationship with God was not strong enough to tear him away from his riches.
We have to let go of things to move forward, become fools for Christ. Sometimes when we act as God wants us to act we look foolish to the world. We can look like fools for Christ - BUT GOD. When things seem foolish and you are doing God's will, go ahead and believe anyway. When the wind is blowing and the waves are high, our foot will not slip, for we are grounded on the truth of the Lord.
5. LACK OF DIRECTION
Pastor Wendel shared about Telemachus, who was a priest on the island of Malta, and he went to Rome. He heard cheering and flowed with the crowd into the Colosseum where there was gladiators. He saw the spectacle, and screamed out, "STOP! FORBID!" He walked down to the floor of the Colosseum and ended up being knocked down. He yelled out, "Stop, in the name of God." Ultimately he died as he tried to stop the game. The story continues with the people in a hush filing out of the Colosseum. The games stopped shortly after.
Pastor Wendell suggested that we ask God: What would you have me do? When? With whom? Sometimes it is appropriate to ask Why?
THE IMPOSSIBLE IS IMPOSSIBLE. Establish your goal, find the information. Keep your vision before your eyes so that you are focusing on your goal. Set clearly attainable goals, and don't let distractions pull you from your goal. When you are given the specific direction, don't let anyone pull you off course.
6. TIME - Know what time it is.
Nehemiah 6:3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”
Nehemiah received an invitation from the enemy to pull him away from rebuilding the wall. Nehemiah knew it was time to rebuild. When God sets us on a path or project we will always get an invitation from the enemy to try and pull us from God's will. We need to have a ready answer. Nehemiah said that he couldn't come because he was doing a great work.
What is a great work? It is doing what God has called us to do. We can do a great work changing diapers in the nursery, teaching Sunday school, cleaning the church. It is not only speaking in the pulpit that is a great work. In rebuilding the wall each person had their specified spot to rebuild. In the Church we all have a place where we contribute to the whole, and together we build the Kingdom.
Jesus told the people that He had to be about His Father's business. Our assignment is to do what Jesus did. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
We are to LOVE - and are sent to reach others.
Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
It is time to take the personal revelation of how God loves us and share it as much as possible with others.
The Bereans were praised because they read the Word and knew what time it was. Acts 17:10-11 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures dailyto find out whether these things were so.
Knowing what God has done in our lives, we have to tell others about Jesus. Pastor Wendell told us that we should be ready with a two-minute testimony. He suggested writing it down and practicing it so that when the opportunity presents itself we can share our testimony. After you share your testimony, ask the person, Have you ever experienced anything like this? Then share what He (Jesus) did for me, and invite them to come to church.
Show the people what a life well lived in Christ is like and that can open the doors to people asking what it is that you have, that gives you the peace and joy you are exhibiting. That opens the door for you to share your testimony. Your credibility opens the door to reaching people.
Your credibility comes by how you live your life - not only the life that others see, but what you do in private. What you do in the light and in the dark is the bread and credibility is the meat of the sandwich.
When you see people give an intentional, "God bless you.
7. COMPARISON TRAP
2 Corinthians 10:12-13 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.
We looked at the same passage in the Amplified.
2 Corinthians 10:12-13 AMP Not that we [have the audacity to] venture to class or [even to] compare ourselves with some who exalt and furnish testimonials for themselves! However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely. We, on the other hand, will not boast beyond our legitimate province and proper limit, but will keep within the limits [of our commission which] God has allotted us as our measuring line and which reaches and includes even you.
We are not to compare ourselves with each other, but rather to compare ourselves with Jesus. Comparing ourselves with others can lead to us thinking we are greater than we are or else it can raise jealousy in us for we are not having or doing what others are doing. Comparing yourself to others can cause you to beat yourself up and it leads to destruction.
He who is greater than us, resides in us. God compared us to parts of the whole Body of Christ, and each part is necessary. Each part has its specific task. we can't all be hands, or eyes, or feet, we need the whole body.
If we compare ourselves to others we end up accepting a lower standard for our life.
8. FEAR
Psalm 27:3 Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.
1 John 4:17-18 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
Psalm 46:2-7 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
No matter what trouble confronts us we don't have to be afraid for God has promised to never leave or forsake us. He is going to give us a refuge and strength. He will build us up. The grace of God (empowerment) and gentleness of God cause us to have no need to fear.
Our enemy is time.
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Keep your focus on what God is calling you to do. God came to give you greatness, and the enemy wants to steal the greatness God wants you to have. Don't be pulled aside by distractions.
Praying your day is blessed.
Heather
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